Mop cleaner

ABSTRACT

A mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, the mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, the mop cleaner comprising: a frame, the frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding the mop head therealong, the mop head guide being mounted to the frame, the mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, the opening leading into the mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, the valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connectable to the vacuum cleaner for allowing the vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to the outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein the valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which the vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of building maintenance and, more particularly, to a mop cleaner.

BACKGROUND

Dust mop cleaners are known in the art and are particularly used to clean dust laden industrial dry dust mops, brushes, scrubbers and the like. Typical dust mop cleaners generally consist in a suction nozzle embedded in a suitable trough and are either adapted to be coupled to the suction hose of a conventional vacuum cleaner or include their own dedicated motor-fan unit.

Typical examples of the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,470, to Branham et Al. (2000), U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,818, to Gardner et Al. (1970), U.S. Pat. No. RE026955, to Milis (1970), U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,419, to Barnhart (1968) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,993, to Lewis (1962).

While these dust mop cleaners of the prior art can generally fulfill the main objective of cleaning a dust laden dry dust mop, or the like, they also offer one or more of the following disadvantages:

a) they usually are stationary devices, which means that a user often has to return to the latter every time a dust mop needs to be cleaned, an aspect which may prove to be particularly demanding during heavy cleaning jobs in multi-story buildings;

b) they usually represent an oversize suction nozzle that may be coupled to the suction hose of a conventional vacuum cleaner, or may represent a dedicated mobile device for cleaning dust mops. In either configurations, a user has the cumbersome task of bringing along two devices in situations where both a dust mop cleaner and a vacuum cleaner are needed;

c) dust mop cleaners of the prior art that are simply represented by a stationary suction nozzle are not particularly convenient to use during heavy cleaning operations where a user often has to use alternatively the dust mop cleaner and the vacuum cleaner due to the small but annoying sequence of coupling and decoupling manipulations of suction nozzles between each use.

Against this background, there exist a need for a new and improved mop cleaner that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mop cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first broad aspect, the invention provides a mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, the mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, the mop cleaner comprising: a frame, the frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding the mop head therealong, the mop head guide being mounted to the frame, the mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, the opening leading into the mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, the valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connectable to the vacuum cleaner for allowing the vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to the outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein the valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which the vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet; whereby when the valve is in the mop cleaning configuration and the outlet is connected to the vacuum cleaner unit, the dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning the mop head with the mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding the mop head along the mop head guide and across the opening; and when the valve is in the vacuuming configuration with the vacuum cleaner hose connected to the vacuuming inlet and the outlet is connected to the vacuum cleaner unit, the dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using the vacuum cleaner hose.

In some embodiments of the invention, the proposed mop cleaner is usable for cleaning dust mops. However, in alternative embodiments, the proposed mop cleaner is also suitable for cleaning wet mops.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mop cleaner is mounted on wheels and includes an industrial vacuum cleaner unit rigidly fastened thereon.

In operation, with the vacuum cleaner unit turned on and the valve handle in position for applying a suction of air through the suction nozzle embedded in the mop head guide, a user may grasp the handle of a dust mop and slide the mop head back and forth along the elongated mop head guide and across the opening, thus drawing the dust, dirt and lint from the mop head. Alternatively, the valve handle may be pivoted for applying a suction of air to the conventional vacuum cleaner hose, thus converting the mobile dust mop cleaner into a conventional industrial vacuum cleaner.

In some embodiments of the invention, the proposed mop cleaner is:

a) relatively easily brought where it is needed the most, an aspect particularly appreciated during cleaning operations in large multi-story buildings;

b) usable alternatively as a mobile dust mop cleaner or as a conventional mobile vacuum cleaner, thus avoiding the cumbersome task of bringing along two individual devices during cleaning operations;

c) includes the valve that makes it easy to switch from a dust mop cleaner to a conventional vacuum cleaner;

d) is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet, is quite efficient and reliable in operation since it essentially represents an assembly of industrial grade components;

e) facilitates management of the various hoses and accessories used during mopping and vacuuming operations;

f) is ergonomic to use.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side, perspective view of a mop cleaner in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side, perspective view of the mop cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented perspective view of a vacuum cleaner unit usable with the mop cleaner of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a disassembled, perspective view of the vacuum cleaner unit shown in FIG. 3, shown with the lower compartment cover thereof removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show various aspects of an embodiment of a mop cleaner 10 according to the present invention. The mop cleaner 10 generally comprises a frame 11, a vacuum cleaner unit 16, a mop head guide 18, a conventional vacuum cleaner hose 20, and a manual three-way valve 22 coupled to an intake port 24 on top of the vacuum cleaner unit 16 for allowing a user to selectively apply a suction of air to either the mop head guide 18 or the conventional vacuum cleaner hose 20, as described in further details hereinbelow.

The frame 11 includes a frame base 12 and a vacuum cleaner support 14 for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit 16 extending substantially away from the frame base 12. The vacuum cleaner support 14 is configured and sized for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit 16 in a spaced apart relationship relative to the frame base 12.

The frame base 12 is generally defined as having a frame base front end 26, a substantially opposed frame base rear end 28 and frame base side edges 30 and 31 extending therebetween. A set of wheels is provided in the form of a pair of parallel casters 32 rotatably mounted to the frame base front end 26 and a pair of swivel casters 34 secured to the frame base 12 so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis substantially adjacent to the frame base rear end 28.

The vacuum cleaner support 14 is generally defined by a pair of upright parallel support members 36 having their lower ends rigidly attached to the frame base 12 and their upper ends joined by a substantially vertical mounting plate 38. The mounting plate 38 is therefore located in a spaced apart relationship relative to the frame base 12. Horizontally extending frontwardly and rearwardly relative to the vacuum cleaner support 14, there is an accessory tray 40 and a rear, substantially U-shaped, handle bar 42 respectively. Accessory tray 40 may be used for carrying items such as small hand tools and various vacuum nozzles, while rear handle bar 42 is provided for maneuvering the mop cleaner 10. A hose support in the form of a relatively large hook 44 is rigidly fixed to a peripheral edge of the accessory tray 40 for conveniently hooking thereon a rolled-up vacuum cleaner hose 20. The location of the accessory tray 40 and hook 44 facilitate the management of the vacuum cleaner hose 20 and the exchange of accessories attachable to the vacuum cleaner hose 20 as the accessory tray 40 is conveniently adjacent to the vacuum cleaner hose 20.

Mop head guide 18 is mounted to the frame base 12 and longitudinally extending horizontally along frame base side edge 31 of frame base 12. Typically, the mop head guide 18 is represented by an elongated hollow structure having a substantially triangular cross-section generally defining an inclined substantially planar surface 46 and is equipped with a protruding lower guiding lip 48, and a rearside support member 50 attached to the frame base 12.

In other words, the substantially planar surface 46 defines substantially opposed planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49 and substantially opposed planar surface first and second side edges 51 and 53 each extending between the planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49. The guiding lip 48 extends along the planar surface first side edge 51 and the substantially planar surface 46 is angled relative to the frame base 12 such that the planar surface first side edge 51 is closer to the frame base 12 than the planar surface second side edge 53. The rearside support member 50 extends between the planar surface second side edge 53 and the frame base 12.

Substantially centrally positioned along the longitudinal axis of the elongated substantially planar surface 46 between the planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49, there is a transversal elongated opening 52, seen in FIG. 2, substantially extending the full width of the substantially planar surface 46 and leading into a the wider open end of a funnel-like mop cleaning suction nozzle 54 sealingly coupled to the opening 52. The opposite end (not shown) of the funnel-like mop cleaning suction nozzle 54 is coupled to a relatively short mop cleaner tube 56 which, in turn, has its opposite end coupled to a mop cleaning inlet 58 on the three-way valve 22 connected on top of vacuum cleaner unit 16 for fluidly coupling the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54 and the mop cleaning inlet 58 to each other, as described in more details hereinafter.

Vacuum cleaner unit 16 is rigidly mounted to the rearside of the vertical mounting plate 38, within the space delimited between the latter and rear handle bar 42. The vacuum cleaner unit 16 is preferably of the heavy-duty, cyclone separator type that is generally found in industrial and domestic applications such as, for example, in a central vacuum cleaning system. For demonstration purposes, FIG. 3 shows a typical cyclone separator type vacuum cleaner unit 16 generally represented by a vertically standing cylindrical body having an upper portion 60 and a lower portion 62, with both upper and lower ends 64 and 66 sealed closed except for the three-way valve 22 having a central outlet 68 connected to intake port 24 through upper end 64. Upper portion 60 represents the anchoring base of the vacuum cleaner unit 16 that is rigidly secured to the rear side of the vertical mounting plate 38, while the lower portion 62 represents a housing detachably sealably secured to upper portion 60 through anchoring means such as, for example, manually operable clips (not shown). Upper portion 60 further houses a suction motor-fan unit 70 and a vertical cylindrical air conduit 72 extending downwardly from the outlet 68 underside three-way valve 22, to a dust collecting filter bag 74 deployed within the lower compartment created by lower portion 62. In some embodiments, suction motor-fan unit 70 generates performances of at least 590 “air watts”, an industry standard measurement of vacuum cleaner performance, which is the mass flow rate through the vacuum cleaner multiplied by the pressure drop across the unit's impeller. Filter bag 74 has suitable filtering properties that filter the finest dust particles from the incoming air while still allowing the cyclonic effect to take place throughout the compartment created within lower portion 62 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16.

In the operation of cyclone separator vacuum units of this type, incoming dust-laden air passes downwardly through intake port 24 and cylindrical air conduit 72, and then into filter bag 74 where it is swirled in a generally circular path therein. The circulation action of the air causes a centrifugal separation from the lint, dust and dirt particles, which cumulates along the peripheral inner walls of the dust collecting filter bag 74, to finally fall downwardly and accumulate at the bottom of the latter. The air passing outwardly through the filter bag 74 is then exhausted through the lower end 76 of the suction motor-fan unit 70, and then to an air exhaust outlet (not shown in the drawings) positioned along the peripheral wall of the upper portion 60.

It is to be noted that the vacuum cleaner unit 16 is properly vertically positioned relative to the upperside of the frame base 12 such that the lower portion 62 can be easily removed by hand from under the vacuum unit in order to replace a dust laden filter bag 74. FIG. 4 shows vacuum cleaner unit 16 with lower portion 62 removed. The vacuum cleaner unit 16 is further complemented with a control switch assembly and an electrical cord having a conventional plug at its terminal end for powering the unit through a standard electrical wall outlet. The switch assembly and electrical cord mentioned above are of the conventional types commonly found on standard appliances and have been omitted from the appended drawings for clarity purposes. Furthermore, it is to be understood that vacuum cleaner unit 16 can be of any other suitable types of vacuum cleaner unit offering comparable performances.

Three-way valve 22 has a mop cleaning inlet 58, a vacuuming inlet 80, and an outlet 68 that is sealably coupled to the air intake port 24 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16. The three-way valve 22 is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the mop cleaning inlet 58, and therefore the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54, is in fluid communication with the outlet 68 and a vacuuming configuration, in which the vacuuming inlet 80 is in fluid communication with the outlet 68. To that effect, the three-way valve 22 has a pivotably coupled valve handle 82 for selecting one of the two air inlets 58 or 80 to be connected to intake port 24 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16. Vacuuming inlet 80 is coupled to one end of a relatively short vacuum hose 84 which, in turn, has its opposite end coupled to the rearside of an interface connector 86 conveniently mounted through the upper end of vacuum cleaner support 14, the vacuum hose 84 ensuring fluid communication between the vacuuming inlet 80 and the interface connector 86. The mop cleaning inlet 58 is coupled to the mop cleaning tube 56 which, in turn, is coupled to the mop head guide 18 through the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54 (as described above).

Conventional vacuum cleaner hose 20 is of a suitable length and has one end detachably coupled, through a quick-connect tubing coupling 88, or the like, on the front side of interface connector 86, and has its opposite end equipped with a conventional suction nozzle 90 having its open end compatible for detachably coupling with one of a plurality of suction nozzles (not shown) offering various configurations for specialized cleaning tasks such as, for example, a wide-mouthed dust brush for cleaning carpets, a narrow-mouthed nozzle for cleaning tight corners, and the like.

FIG. 2 best shows the mode of usage of the mop cleaner 10. With the vacuum cleaner unit 16 powered on and the valve handle 82 positioned to select mop cleaning inlet 58 such that air is drawn through mop cleaning suction nozzle 54, underside mop head guide 18, a user may grasp the handle 92 of a dust laden mop and slide the mop head 94 back and forth laterally along the inclined substantially planar surface 46 of the mop head guide 18. As the mop head 94 is moved across the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54, the vacuum sucks the dust, dirt and lint from the mop head 94 and into the vacuum cleaner unit 16.

Alternatively, valve handle 82 can be rotated in the opposite direction to select vacuuming inlet 80 such that it is in operative relation with the vacuum cleaner unit 16, and thus converting the mop cleaner 10 into a conventional industrial vacuum cleaner through the normal use of vacuum cleaner hose 20.

It is to be noted that the air outlet on upper portion 60 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16 thus being generally directed towards the rearside of vertical mounting plate 38, offers a convenient air exhaust deflector. Furthermore, rear handle bar 42 offers appreciable mechanical protection to the vacuum cleaner unit 16 against impacts with objects or stationary structures as the handle bar 42 and the vacuum cleaner support 14 together define a vacuum cleaner receiving space extending therebetween for receiving the vacuum cleaner unit 16. Yet furthermore, the configuration of the proposed mop cleaner 10 positions the valve handle 82 so that operation of the valve handle 82 is ergonomic. Yet furthermore, the inclination of the substantially planar surface 46 contributes furthermore to the ergonomics of the proposed mop cleaner 10.

Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but as merely providing one illustration of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the general disposition of the vacuum cleaner support 14, with the vacuum cleaner unit 16, the accessory tray 40 and handle bar 42 attached thereto, may be modified to accommodate the addition of a trash can resting on the wheeled base. Furthermore, suitable clamping means arrangements may by provided along a peripheral edge of the accessory tray 40 or the handle bar 42 for holding the handles of various brooms, brushes, scrubbers or other like tools.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, said mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, said mop cleaner comprising: a frame, said frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting said vacuum cleaner unit; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding said mop head therealong, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame, said mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, said opening leading into said mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, said valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connectable to said vacuum cleaner for allowing said vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to said outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein said valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which said mop cleaning suction nozzle is in fluid communication with said outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which said vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet; whereby when said valve is in said mop cleaning configuration and said outlet is connected to said vacuum cleaner unit, said dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning said mop head with said mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding said mop head along said mop head guide and across said opening; and when said valve is in said vacuuming configuration with said vacuum cleaner hose connected to said vacuuming inlet and said outlet is connected to said vacuum cleaner unit, said dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using said vacuum cleaner hose.
 2. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 1, wherein said mop head guide includes a substantially planar surface for sliding said mop head therealong, said opening being formed in said substantially planar surface.
 3. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a frame base, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame base.
 4. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 3, wherein said mop head guide includes a substantially planar surface for sliding said mop head therealong, said opening being formed in said substantially planar surface.
 5. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 4, wherein said substantially planar surface defines substantially opposed planar surface first and second ends and substantially opposed planar surface first and second side edges each extending between said planar surface first and second ends; said mop head guide includes a guiding lip extending along said planar surface first side edge.
 6. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 5, wherein said substantially planar surface is angled relative to said frame base with said planar surface first side edge closer to said frame base than said planar surface second side edge.
 7. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 5, wherein said opening is substantially centrally located between said planar surface first and second ends.
 8. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 4, wherein said vacuum cleaner support extends substantially away from said frame base and is configured and sized for supporting said vacuum cleaner unit in a spaced apart relationship relative to said frame base.
 9. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 8, further comprising a handle bar extending from said vacuum cleaner support.
 10. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 9, wherein said handle bar is substantially U-shaped, said handle bar and said vacuum cleaner support together defining a vacuum cleaner receiving space extending therebetween for receiving said vacuum cleaner unit.
 11. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 8, further comprising an accessory tray extending from said vacuum cleaner support.
 12. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 8, further comprising a hose support mechanically coupled to said said vacuum cleaner support for supporting said vacuum cleaner hose.
 13. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 8, wherein said vacuum cleaner support includes a mounting plate for mounting said vacuum cleaner thereto, said mounting plate being located in a spaced apart relationship relative to said frame base.
 14. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 4, wherein planar surface is substantially elongated and said opening is substantially elongated and extends substantially perpendicularly to said planar surface.
 15. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 3, further comprising a set of wheels mounted to said frame base.
 16. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 3, wherein said frame base defines a frame base first end, a frame base second end substantially opposed to said frame base first end and a pair of frame base side edges extending between said frame base first and second ends, said mop head guide extending along one of said frame base side edges.
 17. A mop cleaner as defined in claim 1, further comprising an interface connector usable for removably connecting said vacuum cleaner hose thereto, said interface connector being in fluid communication with said vacuuming inlet.
 18. A mop cleaner, said mop cleaner being usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, said mop cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner unit; a frame, said frame defining a vacuum cleaner support, said vacuum cleaner unit being mounted to said vacuum cleaner support; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding said mop head therealong, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame, said mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, said opening leading into said mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, said valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said vacuum cleaner for allowing said vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to said outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein said valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which said mop cleaning suction nozzle is in fluid communication with said outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which said vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet; whereby when said valve is in said mop cleaning configuration, said dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning said mop head with said mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding said mop head along said mop head guide and across said opening; and when said valve is in said vacuuming configuration with said vacuum cleaner hose connected to said vacuuming inlet, said dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using said vacuum cleaner hose. 